Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Govenment Auto Takeover to Shutdown NASCAR

Image: ourgreenwich.com

NASCAR has long been considered a "Red State" sport. President Obama may be hindering any hope of making further inroads with NASCAR dads as Car and Driver reports that, "In a move sure to spark outrage, the White House announced today that GM and Chrysler must cease participation in NASCAR at the end of the 2009 season if they hope to receive any additional financial aid from the government."

"Automakers used to operate on the principle of 'win on Sunday, sell on Monday,' but the Auto Task Force’s research just doesn’t validate that as true," said the statement from President Obama.

"NASCAR is a racing series that regulates down to the smallest detail of the cars, where a car badged a Chevrolet or Dodge differs only marginally from a Ford or a Toyota. There’s no technological development to speak of."

The statement goes on further to say the same demand will be made of Ford if it asks for government assistance. "In order to receive this money, corporations must demonstrate they will spend it wisely. Racing has been said to improve on-road technology, but frankly, NASCAR almost flaunts its standing among the lowest-tech forms of motorsport. NASCAR is not proven to drive advancements that transfer from the racetrack to the road, and this nation’s way forward does not hinge on decades-old technology. We need new, and we need innovation."